Attack best form of defence for Lorenzo
Lorenzo hasn't beaten championship rival Dani Pedrosa on track since July's Laguna Seca round, but the Honda rider's Misano non-score - which balanced out Lorenzo's earlier Assen incident - means Lorenzo holds a commanding 33 point lead with four rounds to go.
The return of Pedrosa's team-mate Casey Stoner adds another proven winner to the mix, but Lorenzo is determined to fight for a home Yamaha victory at Motegi.
“We start the Asiatic tour leading the Championship and in a good shape after the Aragon race,” said Lorenzo, second to Pedrosa last time out in Aragon.
“For sure it's going to be difficult because our competitors at this moment of the season are very strong, but we have to play our cards in the best possible way.
“Motegi is a track that I like, I won here in 2009 and I think we can fight for the win again this weekend.”
Team manager Wilco Zeelenberg is also talking of extending, rather than defending, their championship lead.
“Motegi can be a tough track for us but Jorge is very motivated and fit. It would be the perfect start to the triple back to back races to extend our lead this weekend,” said Zeelenberg.
The unlucky Assen incident aside, Lorenzo has finished first or second in every race this season.
Lorenzo can afford to lose an average of eight points per race to Pedrosa in the remaining rounds. The difference between finishing first and third is nine points.
